Decoy-tether.



J. H. WATTENBURGBB..

DEQY TETHER. APPLIUATION Hmm JAN. 4, 1910.

. Patented Feb.21, 1911.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB H. WATTENBURG-ER, OF ECHO, OREGON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF Tf) HIRAMIB. GILLETTE, OF ECHO, OREGON.

DECOY-TETHER.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 2,1, 1911.

` Application filed January 4, 1910. Serial No. 536,378.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB H. WAT'I'EN- BURGER, citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Echo, in the county of Umatilla and State of Oregon,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Decoy-Tethers, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to hunting or trapping, and has for its primaryobject an improved construction and arrangement of decoy tether foranimal traps, for use in capturing. coyotes,l cougars, panthere, lynxesand the like.

The invention consists essentially in a decoy using live bait, andcomprising a post adapted to be driven into the ground, a ring or loopslipped over the post and loosely mounted thereon, a belt or similardevice adapted to be secured to the decoy and connect-ed to the ringby achain, rope, or similar ieXible connection, the decoy being setpreferably within a circle of traps of any desired character so thatwhen the animals to be caught are attracted to the live bait, the decoycan climb the pole and be instantly out of danger, while the repeatedefforts of the other animals to capture the decoy will result in theirbeing caught themselves in the traps which are arranged in proximity tothe pole.

The invention also consists in a device of this character embodying apole which is provided at its upper end with a relatively sharp point,the purpose of the same being to provide an uncomfortable perch for thedecoy so that after the entrapped animal has dragged the trap into thebushes for instance, to hide, the decoy will see no danger, and owing toits uncomfortable position at the top of thepost or pole, will descend,thereby automatically rebaiting the remain ing traps. And the inventionalso consists in cert-ain constructions, arrangements and combinationsof the parts thatI shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

For a full understanding of. the `invention, reference is to be had tothe following description and accompanying drawings in which: The figureis a perspective view showing the practical application of my device, aportion of the sheathing of the'post being broken away.

I n carrying out my invention, a rigid post l, preferably of relativelysoft wood, is embedded in the ground so that it will projectupwardly `tothe required extent. If desired, so much of the post as projects abovethe. ground, may be covered with canvas or the like as indicated at 2,to assist the decoy in climbing. A light ring of iron` or any otherdesired material or substance is slipped loosely over the post l and achain 4, or a cord or similar flexible connection is connected to thering as by a swivel 5. To the other end of the flexible connectingmember 4C is a belt 6 of leather or the like secured in any desired way,said belt being adapted to encircle and be secured to the decoy.

Preferably the traps which may be of any desired construction, and whichare desig-l nated 7 are arranged in a circular series with the post l atthe center, and at any predetermined distance from the post, The traps 7are connected by a chain 8 or the like to clogs 'or drags'9 which may beembedded in the earth if desire l, substantially level with the surfacethereon.

In the practical use of my improved decoy for safely employing livebait, the animal to serve as a decoy is strapped in the belt 6, thetraps 7 are set and preferably a trail is made to the live bait by theuse of a piece of raw meat tracked 'along the ground. As the animals tobe trapped follow the ,trail and are i attracted to the decoy tetheredto the post l, such animal will escape by climbing the post and be atonce out of danger, while the animals attracted will havel altendency toabandon their usual caution in view of the fact .caught will at oncedrag the trap away fora short dist-ance, so as to hide in the bushes forinstance, the decoy will no longer see that 1t is in danger and descendthe post, this movenient being insured owingl to the filet ns will ing;inezising Suid post, and means for tethhe noted from the drawlng, thatthe upper oring :1n nnirnzil to Said post. '1o end of the post ispointed and thereby 'lornm ln testimony whcreofg-I a'fiix my Signaturea, very uncomfortable und uncertain porch. in presence'of two Witnesses.

Having thus described the invention, what JACOB H WATTENBURGER, [1h 3,1is claimed as new is: Witnesses:

A device for holding a live decoy, eoni- R. lB. S'rANFmLna prising u,rigid post, a textile fabric Sheith- NONA HOUSER.

